Workshop | 2 pmOpen Mic | 3 pm​Slam | 4 pm

“Teaching kids how to feed themselves and how to live in a community responsibly is the center of an education.” -Alice Waters

Our ABC's...

As a community of storytellers, we recognize the need for mentoring the youth of our city in learning to share their own stories and experiences. We believe it is essential that young people have a healthy outlet for free expression within their schools, but also to hearthe stories of others in their broader social environment.

By especially focusing on the diverse and gifted communities of youth, we seek to inspire young people to view poetry as a personal investment and outlet through their lives. We begin by connecting young people who want to listen to each other, write together, and share their work with broader audiences. Whatever people are saying, we want to hear it…and we want them to be widely heard.

Connecting campuses to communities is crucial to the full enrichment of a holistic, locally rooted, inter-generational network throughout the Pikes Peak Region. We are not only preparing the youth to compete on a national level by facilitating workshops, hosting events, and organizing local competitions, but we are helping to connect them to their peers and their community outside of their campus.

Below is some from the journey of forming the First Pikes Peak Regional Youth Slam Team!

As John Parker said, "everyone who listened, wrote, and shared committed an act of bravery!"
Hear Here is happy to call here HOME and happy to call you all Family!

March 28th 2015:What an awe-mazing night at the firstHear Here Youth Poetry Slam Semi-finals! This event was held in the Cornerstone Arts Center on the CC campus and featured 13 poets from five high schools in the Pikes Peak Region all competing for eight spots on the finals stage in April.For the first time in our regions history, six youth poets will represent us on the Brave New Voices International Stage!!!

12 youth from Mitchell High School and Manitou Springs shared their stories to a packed house at the first "Hear Here" Youth Poetry Slam Scrimmage. Many braved the cold snowy roads on a Saturday night (INCLUDING the amazingly supportive teachers that held space for these youth to workshop, share in the schools, AND drove them to this event). Even though this was a competition, all the youth, staff, and those present supported BOTH TEAMS EQUALLY...

...each poem and poet was heard and felt and this is what it is all about.